India emerges as 'preferred partner' for Seychelles in maritime security and climate resilience: Report
Canberra, June 25
India has increasingly positioned itself as a "preferred partner" for climate-vulnerable island nations like Seychelles through its island diplomacy, while enhancing maritime security cooperation and advancing climate resilience efforts. By accelerating support for Seychelles' security and blue economy, India is seeking to balance geopolitical interests with local legitimacy, a report has stated.
A report in the Australian Institute of International Affairs detailed that small island nations have gained renewed strategic attention in Indo-Pacific geopolitics, and that the 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles coincided with the recent maiden state visit of the new Seychellean President, Patrick Herminie, to India, and reflected the intensifying maritime competition in the Western Indian Ocean.
It added that it also signalled Seychelles' growing role in India's Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR) vision through the announcement of a joint vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL) and a Special Economic Package of USD 175 million to advance maritime security and sustainable development.
According to the report, as India and Seychelles mark five decades of diplomatic relations, shared priorities in maritime security, development cooperation and climate resilience continue to shape New Delhi's island diplomacy with Victoria.
It noted that Seychelles' vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is significantly larger than its land territory, leaves it vulnerable to Somali pirate attacks, making enhanced maritime surveillance and robust counter-piracy laws a matter of national interest.
In practice, the piracy threat cannot be effectively contained without multilateral cooperation involving key regional stakeholders - thereby underscoring the significance of India's strategic role in the region.
The report mentioned that in response, the Indian Navy has maintained a continuous mission-based deployment in the Gulf of Aden, in a joint effort with anti-piracy escorts along international transit corridors. It further strengthens India's operational reach, securing the Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) as a net security provider. Consequently, India has developed its Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region initiative to better understand, improve, and share real-time maritime information, thus building reliability among partner countries.
It further stated that strategically, the naval interoperability between India and Seychelles is enhanced through initiatives that help address challenges to maritime governance, thus building a cooperative security architecture. The patrol vessels, Dornier aircraft, and training of naval personnel of the Republic of Seychelles institutionalise mutual trust without reliance on formal alliances.
The report noted that while China offers Seychelles rapid infrastructure development through centrally financed projects, such initiatives are often executed by state-owned enterprises with limited participation from local businesses, creating dependency and increasing Beijing's strategic influence.
In contrast, it said, India's partnership-driven approach is focused on strengthening local institutions and human resource capacity under the framework of South-South cooperation, offering Seychelles long-term self-reliance.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting comparison between India's "partnership-driven" approach and China's infrastructure-for-influence model. Having visited Seychelles last year, I saw firsthand how much local communities value capacity building over just roads and buildings. The focus on maritime security and blue economy makes perfect sense for an island nation. India seems to be playing a smart, sustainable game here.
While the strategic angle is important, I hope we're also ensuring these partnerships don't become a burden on our taxpayers. 175 million dollars is a significant package. The report mentions "balancing geopolitical interests with local legitimacy" - we need to make sure that balance isn't tilted too much towards one side. Good initiative, but let's keep an eye on the bottom line. 🇮🇳
As someone from the coastal region of Gujarat, I understand the importance of maritime security. The fact that we're helping Seychelles protect their EEZ from pirates while also building their climate resilience is a win-win. India's approach of "strengthening local institutions" instead of just building infrastructure is what sets us apart from other players. Well done, Ministry of External Affairs! 👏
I appreciate the nuanced take in this report. It's refreshing to see Indian foreign policy being analyzed with such depth. The mention of "balancing geopolitical interests with local legitimacy" is crucial - we can't just be seen as another big power throwing money around. Training their naval personnel, sharing maritime data, and focusing on blue economy are the kinds of partnerships that actually last. Kudos to the team behind this vision! 🌊🤝
J James A